Rental Properties in Maastricht
Maastricht is the capital of the province of Limburg and has a population of 121,565. This makes the municipality of Maastricht the largest in the province of Limburg. The city owes its name to its origin as it developed around a fordable place on the river Maas. Maastricht is among the cities claiming to be the ‘oldest city in the Netherlands’. Archeological excavations have shown that the city has been continuously inhabited for twenty centuries. Remarkably, despite its long history, Maastricht never received city rights in the form of a city charter, but these evolved over the centuries. In 1229, Duke Henry I of Brabant granted permission to replace the earthen wall around the city with a proper city wall. Early in its history, Maastricht was one of the larger cities in the Netherlands, but its population really began to grow explosively after World War II, with several new housing developments being built. In 1974, the Rijksuniversiteit Limburg (now Maastricht University) opened, contributing to greater diversity in the population and increasing internationalisation. Maastricht is also widely known for the Maastricht Treaty, the EU treaty signed in 1992, which founded the European Union.
Rental Homes in Maastricht
There is plenty to see and do in Maastricht to keep you entertained for a day or even several days. Firstly, a walk through the city centre is well worth it, as the historic centre of Maastricht has been a protected cityscape since 1982 and boasts 1,677 national monuments. The centre has several key attractions that are certainly worth visiting. There is the river Maas, alongside which you'll find the Sint Servaas Bridge, Maaspromenade, and various parks ideal for a stroll. The Vrijthof is the most famous square in Maastricht. Here you will find many terraces as well as several monuments, such as the Basilica of Saint Servatius and the Saint John’s Church. For those who don’t want to miss anything or want to learn more about Maastricht's rich attractions, the city offers various guided and unguided city walks.
Art lovers will also find plenty to enjoy in Maastricht, as the city has no fewer than fifteen museums and exhibition spaces. The Bonnefantenmuseum is particularly notable with its rocket-shaped tower along the Maas catching the eye. The Bonnefantenmuseum is a visual arts museum, primarily known for its collections of medieval sculpture, Southern Dutch painting, and contemporary art. Another well-known Maastricht museum is the Natural History Museum, renowned for its collection of Cretaceous fossils. The collection also features objects in the fields of geology, paleontology, and flora and fauna. In this museum, you’ll find a reconstruction of a nearly 5-meter-high dinosaur, the Hadrosaurus. It's not only fun for adults but also regularly organizes activities specifically for children, making it a family-friendly outing!
Another unique attraction in Maastricht is the Sint-Pietersberg, a hill located south of the city. The Sint-Pietersberg is famous for the underground extraction of chalk stone. This has resulted in various underground tunnel systems within the hill. Two of these, Zonneberg and the Northern Tunnel System, are open to the public, accompanied by a guide from the tourist office. Since the hill is mostly closed to motorized traffic, it also serves as an ideal walking area.
Like most major cities in the Netherlands, Maastricht offers extensive shopping opportunities. The city centre features shops from all major chains, as well as many small boutiques. In addition to several major shopping streets, there are two large shopping centres in Maastricht’s centre: Entre Deux and Mosae Forum. Entre Deux is a postmodern shopping complex that is largely covered. It's centrally located between the Market and the Vrijthof. The shopping centre has shops spread over three floors and apartments situated on the top floor. A special feature of this shopping centre is the Dominicanen bookstore, which is housed in a church and has been voted the most beautiful bookstore in the world. Just a stone's throw from Entre Deux, between the Market and the Maas, lies the Mosae Forum shopping centre. This centre not only has 18 shops but also a large food hall.
Why Rent in Maastricht
There are various reasons you might consider renting a home in Maastricht. Firstly, you might be drawn to the character of the city, often described as “foreign” and “Burgundian”. If this lifestyle suits you well, a home in the centre of Maastricht could be perfect for you. It might also be practical to live in Maastricht due to studies at Maastricht University. Or you might choose Maastricht for its favorable location relative to Belgium and Germany, perhaps because you work in one of these countries but prefer to live in the Netherlands.
Renting a Home in Maastricht
Once you’ve decided Maastricht will be your new home, there are still many choices to make. First, it’s practical to decide which neighborhoods you find appealing to live in. You might choose a home in the historic centre, but there are also plenty of rental properties in the neighborhoods surrounding the centre. You’ll have options ranging from new constructions to various historical buildings. Next, it’s helpful to determine whether you’re looking for a house with multiple stories or for something like an apartment flat. Additionally, knowing your approximate budget for monthly rent is crucial. Once you have these points sorted, you can start looking for a great rental property in Maastricht.
